Let's get one thing straight: if you are looking for a literal 3DS cartridge labeled "Pokemon Ruby," you’re going to be looking for a long time. It doesn't exist. Nintendo never released a port of the 2002 Game Boy Advance classic directly to the 3DS. Instead, we got Pokemon Omega Ruby, a full-scale reimagining that changed everything about how we track those 8-bit monsters. Tracking down every entry in the Pokemon Ruby 3DS pokedex—specifically the Hoenn Pokedex found in the Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire (ORAS) remakes—is a different beast entirely than it was back in the early 2000s. It’s better. It's also way more complicated than most people remember.
You’ve got 211 species in the local Hoenn listing, but that's just the surface. Honestly, the real game starts after you deal with the Primal Reversion of Groudon.
The DexNav: A Total Game Changer
Back in the day, you just ran through tall grass and hoped for the best. In the 3DS era, Game Freak gave us the DexNav. This little tool on the bottom screen basically turned the Pokemon Ruby 3DS pokedex from a passive checklist into an active hunting simulator. You see a tail poking out of the grass? You sneak. You move too fast? It bolts. It's a mechanic that feels more grounded than the random encounters of the original GBA titles.
What’s wild is how the DexNav actually rewards you for being obsessive. As your "Search Level" for a specific Pokemon goes up, the Pokedex starts feeding you data you shouldn't technically have yet. We’re talking Hidden Abilities (HA), Egg Moves that usually require hours of breeding, and high Individual Values (IVs). It turned the 3DS version of Hoenn into a competitive player's dream. Most people forget that the 3DS remakes were the bridge between the old-school grind and the more streamlined modern era.
Completing the Hoenn Dex vs. The National Dex
If you want that shiny Oval Charm, you’ve got to see everything in the regional Pokemon Ruby 3DS pokedex. That means 211 entries. Most of these are straightforward, but some are just annoying.
Feebas used to be a nightmare. In the original GBA Ruby, it only appeared in six random water tiles on Route 119. On the 3DS? It's much kinder, appearing under the bridge near the Weather Institute, but it still feels like a gatekeeper. Then you have the trade evolutions. Alakazam, Machamp, Golem, and Gengar still require a partner, which is getting harder and harder now that the Nintendo 3DS online services have officially been sunsetted. Local wireless is your only friend now.
The Post-Primal Expansion
Once you finish the "Delta Episode"—which is hands down the best addition to the remake—the Pokedex basically explodes. Suddenly, the Hoenn region is crawling with Pokemon from Sinnoh, Unova, and Kalos. This is where the National Pokedex kicks in.
To actually "complete" the Pokemon Ruby 3DS pokedex in a modern sense, you're looking at 721 species. Yes, 721. That includes everything from Bulbasaur to Volcanion. Because the 3DS eShop and Nintendo Network are gone, moving these Pokemon around is a logistical headache. You need Pokemon Bank, which is currently in a sort of "limbo" state where it’s free for those who had it, but inaccessible for those who didn't.
Mirage Spots and the Legendary Problem
The 3DS version of Ruby did something the original never could: it put almost every Legendary Pokemon in one game. Through a mechanic called Soaring in the Sky with Mega Latios or Latias, you can find "Mirage Spots."
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These spots are inconsistent. They appear and disappear based on the time of day and who you’ve passed via StreetPass (or the simulated StreetPass data). One day you’re catching Reshiram, the next you’re looking at a forest full of Munna. It's a layer of RNG that makes the Pokemon Ruby 3DS pokedex feel alive, but it can be frustrating if you’re missing just one bird from the Lake Trio.
Basically, the game expects you to check in every single day.
The Myth of the "Perfect" Pokedex
Many players get stuck on the Mythical entries. Deoxys is actually catchable in the 3DS version during the Delta Episode, which was a huge deal at the time because it was previously an event-only Pokemon. However, Jirachi remains an outlier. Unless you have a specific bonus disc from the GameCube era or a rare 20th-anniversary distribution, that slot in your Pokemon Ruby 3DS pokedex is likely going to stay empty.
Does it matter? For the in-game rewards like the Shiny Charm, no. Game Freak usually excludes Mythicals from the "completion" requirement. But for the completionist, it's a nagging itch that’s hard to scratch in 2026.
Modern Workarounds for 3DS Trainers
Since we are living in a post-online-3DS world, the way you fill your Pokedex has shifted from Global Trade Station (GTS) browsing to hardware manipulation or heavy local trading. If you’re serious about finishing the Pokemon Ruby 3DS pokedex today, here is the reality:
- Physical Hardware is King: You really need two 3DS systems and both Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire. Version exclusives like Mawile (Ruby) vs. Sableye (Sapphire) make it impossible to solo the Dex without a second console.
- The Pokemon Bank Factor: If you don't have Pokemon Bank installed on your 3DS, your Pokedex is effectively a walled garden. You won't be able to bring in monsters from Pokemon X/Y or older DS titles like Black/White.
- The QR Code Shortcut: One of the coolest, most "niche" features of the 3DS Hoenn games is the Secret Base. You can find QR codes online for "Blissey Bases." Scanning these gives you access to teams of Level 100 Blisseys that only use Healing Wish. It is the fastest way to level up your team for those high-level evolutions.
Final Steps for Your Hoenn Journey
Completing the Pokemon Ruby 3DS pokedex isn't just a nostalgic trip; it’s a massive logistical challenge that requires patience. Start by focusing on the 211 regional entries to get your Oval Charm, which increases the rate of eggs found at the Daycare. This makes breeding for those missing entries significantly faster.
Next, utilize the Soar ability every day to check for new Mirage Spots. Since you can no longer rely on the GTS to trade for legendaries, these spots are your only legitimate path to catching the likes of Palkia, Giratina, and Landorus.
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Lastly, hunt for a local retro gaming community. Without the internet, the "Social" aspect of Pokemon has returned to its roots—sitting on a couch and trading via infrared. It’s inconvenient. It’s slow. Honestly, it’s exactly how Pokemon was meant to be played. Put your 3DS in your bag, keep the wireless switch on, and hope you cross paths with another trainer still clinging to the Hoenn dream.